Sleeping pills, including barbiturates and benzodiazepines, are among the chief causes. In fact, benzodiazepines alone have accounted for nearly one in seven of these deaths, often when combined with opioid drugs such as OxyContin (oxymorphone) and Vicodin (hydrocodone).
What Are Sleeping Pills?
Sleeping pills are depressant medications. They act upon the central nervous system to slow down the body’s function. They are classified as “sedative hypnotics,” and are prescribed to ease anxiety or enable sleep. The two main types of sedatives are barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Some of the more commonly prescribed barbiturates include:
Luminal (phenobarbital)Nembutal (pentobarbital)
In recent years, benzodiazepines have supplanted barbiturates as the sedative drug of choice. Among the most commonly prescribed are:
Ativan (lorazepam)Halcion (triazolam)Klonopin (clonazepam)Librium (chlordiazepoxide)Tranxene (clorazepate)Valium (diazepam)Xanax (alprazolam)
Signs of a Sleeping Pill Overdose
Symptoms of an overdose of sleeping pills are similar to those of an overdose of alcohol, which is also a depressant. Slowing of brain function initially affects voluntary functions. When a person overdoses, the drug can begin to affect involuntary functions, such as breathing and heart rate. Symptoms include:
Bluish tinge to the lips, fingers, and skin (cyanosis)Difficulty breathingDizziness or fainting spellsInability to think or respond normallyIncreasing coldness of the skinSlowed respirationSlowed heartbeatSlurred speechUnconsciousnessUnsteadinessVomitingShockComa
Causes of Overdose
As sleeping pills work by depressing the central nervous system, the overuse of the drugs can slow body functions to such a degree as to cause unconsciousness, respiratory failure, and death. An overdose may be a deliberate suicide attempt. However, not all suicide attempts succeed as vomiting is common when the drug is taken in excess. If this happens, the person may survive but have brain damage due to the lack of oxygen. By contrast, an accidental overdose can occur if someone takes too much of a sedative by mistake or combines it with other drugs that enhance the sleeping pills’ depressive effects. From 2002 to 2015, the rate of overdose deaths involving the combined use of sedatives and opioids has doubled. Today, the majority of sedative-related overdose deaths occur for this reason. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Accidental overdoses can also happen if a person becomes dependent on sleeping pills but, over time, become less responsive to the drug. In a desperate attempt to get sleep, they may end up taking too many. In some cases, a person who has been taking sleeping pills recreationally may begin to inject the drug. They may miscalculate the dosage, which can lead to overdose.
Emergency Treatment
People who have overdosed on sleeping pills will be admitted to the hospital and monitored closely, usually in intensive care. Approximately one in four overdose deaths occur after a person has been admitted. Treatment may involve some or all of the following:
A stomach pumpAdministration of activated charcoal to absorb the excess drugMedications to flush the drug through the bowels or urinary tractAdministration of intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration and stabilize body functionsA respirator if breathing has been impairedDialysis to better clean the bloodMedications to stabilize heart functionPsychiatric care, including a short-term suicide watch
Generally speaking, people can recover from a sleeping pill overdose if treatment is started early. Unless a person has experienced prolonged oxygen deprivation, the effects of the overdose tend to last only as long as the drug remains in the system.
